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A Sticky Tool

Duct tape is a special kind of tape with an interesting history. During World War II, soldiers needed a way to keep things in boxes from getting wet. An American factory worker named Vesta Stoudt figured out what to do. She made a waterproof tape that kept the boxes closed and the contents dry. The tape was made of three parts. It had a waterproof plastic top, cloth in the middle and sticky glue on the bottom.

The soldiers thought the tape was great, and they started using it for many things. They called it ‘duck’ tape for two reasons. First, water rolled off it just like water rolls off a duck’s feathers. Also, it was made out of a cloth called cotton duck. Soon soldiers started using ‘duck’ tape to fix boots, trucks and even planes!

After the war was over, the soldiers brought the tape home. Repair workers started using it to tape air ducts. Air ducts carry heated and cooled air through a building. This is how the name changed from duck tape to duct tape. Homeowners discovered it was the perfect tool to fix just about anything that broke. Clever people everywhere used it to fix air conditioners, heaters and leaking pipes. By the 1970s, duct tape had become a common and important tool. Astronauts even brought duct tape along with them to outer space!

People still use duct tape for home repairs, but it is used for even more things now. Duct tape comes in many different colours, and some people use it to make bookmarks, flowers and bags. Some people have even used it to make clothing!

💦 What is the text about?

• It is about the many different kinds of duct tape.
• It is about how duct tape became a tool with many uses.
• It is about why factory workers need duct tape.

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A World of Pictures

From cave drawings to photos, pictures can often say more than words alone. This is one reason why people use emojis. Emojis are small pictures often used in text messages and email. They are used to show a feeling or idea. These little pictures of faces, objects and animals got their start in Japan. The word emoji comes from the Japanese words for ‘picture’ and ‘character’.

In the 1990s, it took a long time to write text messages on the first mobile phones. A Japanese man named Shigetaka Kurita thought it would be faster and easier to send messages using pictures. Instead of typing ‘It is sunny today,’ you could just use a picture of the sun. Kurita came up with 176 digital pictures that became the first emojis. There were hearts, happy and sad faces, and pictures showing different kinds of weather. The emojis were fast to type and easy to understand. They could also add extra information about how the writer was feeling.

Emojis were an instant hit. People loved using emojis so much that they asked for new ones to be made. Now, there are thousands of different emojis, including ones for pizza, basketball and animals.

Using pictures in messages can carry ideas across the world. Even people who do not speak the same language can communicate with emojis. A smiling face means happy thoughts whether you speak English or Japanese!

💦 What is the text about?

• It is about famous art museums around the world.
• It is about how people talk differently around the world.
• It is about the history and use of emojis.